Colchester Archaeological Trust

CAT Report 776: summary

Archaeological trial-trenching evaluation at Montgomery County Junior and Infant School, Baronswood Way, Colchester, Essex - June 2014
by Ben Holloway and Howard Brooks

Date report completed: July 2014
Location: Montgomery County Junior and Infant School, Baronswood Way, Colchester, Essex
Map reference(s): TL 9854 2249
File size: 1,518 kb
Project type: Evaluation by trial-trenching
Significance of the results: *
Keywords: WW2, anti-tank ditch

Summary. Montgomery School is located within the oppidum of Camulodunum, and in an area of cropmarks which recent excavations (prior to the rebuilding of Colchester garrison) have identified as an Iron Age and Roman rural landscape. It is proposed to redevelop the site by building eight new class-bases, a play area, and expanded car-parks on parts of the playing field and parking area. Five evaluation trenches (total length 76m) revealed no Late Iron Age or Roman remains, but did reveal a wide modern ditch whose fill (including barbed wire) indicates that it is almost certainly of modern military origin. It may be a continuation of the WW2 anti-tank ditch excavated on Garrison Area 10 (1km to the north-east), in 2003.